Blastocyst MHC is a recently identified mouse MHC class Ib gene, which is selectively expressed in blastocyst and placenta, and may be the mouse homolog of HLA-G gene the products of which have been implicated in protection of fetal trophoblasts from maternal NK cells and evasion of some tumor cells from NK cell attack. In this study, we identified two blastocyst MHC gene transcripts encoding a full-length α-chain (bc1) and an alternatively spliced form lacking the α2 domain (bc2), which may be homologous to HLA-G1 and HLA-G2, respectively. Both placenta and a teratocarcinoma cell line predominantly expressed the bc2 transcript. When these cDNAs were expressed in TAP-deficient RMA-S or TAP-sufficient RMA cells, only bc1 protein was expressed on the surface of RMA cells, but both bc1 and bc2 proteins were retained in the cytoplasm of RMA-S cells. Significantly, the RMA-S cells expressing either bc1 or bc2 were protected from lysis by NK cells in vitro. This protection was at least partly mediated by up-regulation of Qa-1b expression on the surface of RMA-S cells, which engaged the CD94/NKG2A inhibitory receptor on NK cells. More importantly, the bc1- or bc2-expressing RMA-S cells were significantly protected from NK cell-mediated rejection in vivo. These results suggested a role for blastocyst MHC in protecting TAP-deficient trophoblasts and tumor cells from NK cell attack in vivo.

Our data indicate that PA diameters on day 0 and LPA flow are strongly prognostic in left-sided CDH and L/R ratio would appear to be a simple highly reliable indicator of the necessity for NO therapy.

No abstract

Our selection criteria for TR would appear to be safe and reasonable.

Compression has been regarded as the main haemostatic mechanism of compression sutures; however, we suggest that reduced uterine blood flow may be another important action. We suggest that our 'double vertical compression sutures' may have dual actions: haemostatic compression of the bleeding surface and reduced uterine blood flow.